Kino
08-20-2007, 07:09 PM
I have just learned that John Pytlak has passed away after a prolonged battle with cancer.
John was a major force in Kodak and the World of Motion Pictures.
Selfless and devoted to the spread of technical knowledge, he would always go the extra mile to help and expected nothing in return.
He will be sorely missed.
Rest in Peace.
Frank Wylie
Former Lab Supervisor
Library of Congress Motion Picture Conservation Center
Dayton, Ohio
*************
PS: I found this information (out of date) on the web, it is the best I could find to outline his life...
Biographical Information for John P. Pytlak
John P. Pytlak
Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services
Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69
Eastman Kodak Company
Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Telephone: (585) 477-5325
Cell: (585) 781-4036
Fax: (585) 722-7243
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
John Pytlak has spent his entire 33-year career at Kodak working on
motion-picture product development and customer technical service.
John has an electronic engineering degree from the State University
of New York at Buffalo, graduating in 1970. But his “reel” education
in film began as a projectionist at several “hardtops” and drive-in
theatres around Buffalo, NY, working his way through school.
Over the years, John has worked on a wide variety of projects at
Kodak to help improve the quality of the prints theatres receive, and
to help theatres put all that quality on the screen. These include
the development of the Laboratory Aim Density (LAD) control method,
Particle Transfer Roller (PTR) film cleaners, and new Kodak print
films having scratch-resistant anti-static backings. Recent projects
to Enhance the Theatre Experience include developing the
specifications for the Kodak ScreenCheck Experience, and working on
significant improvements in projection technology. Since 1994, John
has written “Pytlak’s Practical Projection Pointers” for Kodak’s
quarterly publications “Film Notes for Reel People” and “Cinema
Notes”, answering technical questions from exhibitors and
projectionists, and helping them improve presentation quality. He is
also active helping theatres via the INTERNET, participating in user
groups like http://www.film-tech.com and http://www.bigscreenbiz.com .
An active member of the SMPTE since 1970, John was elected a Fellow
of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) in
1983, and has served on SMPTE Theatrical Projection Technology
Committee since 1979, including eight years as Chair of the
committee. John is also an active member of the NATO Blue Ribbon
Committee, a member of the British Kinematograph, Sound and
Television Society (BKSTS), and Convenor of the Projection Technology
Committee of ISO/TC36 (International Standards Organization).
John’s active participation on the Inter-Society Committee for the
Enhancement of Theatrical Presentation since 1979 includes the
thorough study of the causes of print damage, the SMPTE Theatre
Quality Evaluation Program, and a comprehensive report on the
conversion from triacetate to polyester film base. On March 6, 2002
at the ShoWest theatre owners convention, John became President of
the Inter-Society Committee, after serving two years as Secretary-
Treasurer.
On March 3, 2001, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
with a Technical Achievement Award (Certificate) honored John for his
work in developing the Laboratory Aim Density (LAD) System. The LAD
system has become the standard method used by film laboratories and
digital film recording facilities for the efficient and uniform
control of color in camera negatives, inter-positives, and duplicate
negatives.
John was a major force in Kodak and the World of Motion Pictures.
Selfless and devoted to the spread of technical knowledge, he would always go the extra mile to help and expected nothing in return.
He will be sorely missed.
Rest in Peace.
Frank Wylie
Former Lab Supervisor
Library of Congress Motion Picture Conservation Center
Dayton, Ohio
*************
PS: I found this information (out of date) on the web, it is the best I could find to outline his life...
Biographical Information for John P. Pytlak
John P. Pytlak
Senior Technical Specialist
Worldwide Technical Services
Entertainment Imaging
Research Labs, Building 69
Eastman Kodak Company
Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Telephone: (585) 477-5325
Cell: (585) 781-4036
Fax: (585) 722-7243
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
John Pytlak has spent his entire 33-year career at Kodak working on
motion-picture product development and customer technical service.
John has an electronic engineering degree from the State University
of New York at Buffalo, graduating in 1970. But his “reel” education
in film began as a projectionist at several “hardtops” and drive-in
theatres around Buffalo, NY, working his way through school.
Over the years, John has worked on a wide variety of projects at
Kodak to help improve the quality of the prints theatres receive, and
to help theatres put all that quality on the screen. These include
the development of the Laboratory Aim Density (LAD) control method,
Particle Transfer Roller (PTR) film cleaners, and new Kodak print
films having scratch-resistant anti-static backings. Recent projects
to Enhance the Theatre Experience include developing the
specifications for the Kodak ScreenCheck Experience, and working on
significant improvements in projection technology. Since 1994, John
has written “Pytlak’s Practical Projection Pointers” for Kodak’s
quarterly publications “Film Notes for Reel People” and “Cinema
Notes”, answering technical questions from exhibitors and
projectionists, and helping them improve presentation quality. He is
also active helping theatres via the INTERNET, participating in user
groups like http://www.film-tech.com and http://www.bigscreenbiz.com .
An active member of the SMPTE since 1970, John was elected a Fellow
of the Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers (SMPTE) in
1983, and has served on SMPTE Theatrical Projection Technology
Committee since 1979, including eight years as Chair of the
committee. John is also an active member of the NATO Blue Ribbon
Committee, a member of the British Kinematograph, Sound and
Television Society (BKSTS), and Convenor of the Projection Technology
Committee of ISO/TC36 (International Standards Organization).
John’s active participation on the Inter-Society Committee for the
Enhancement of Theatrical Presentation since 1979 includes the
thorough study of the causes of print damage, the SMPTE Theatre
Quality Evaluation Program, and a comprehensive report on the
conversion from triacetate to polyester film base. On March 6, 2002
at the ShoWest theatre owners convention, John became President of
the Inter-Society Committee, after serving two years as Secretary-
Treasurer.
On March 3, 2001, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
with a Technical Achievement Award (Certificate) honored John for his
work in developing the Laboratory Aim Density (LAD) System. The LAD
system has become the standard method used by film laboratories and
digital film recording facilities for the efficient and uniform
control of color in camera negatives, inter-positives, and duplicate
negatives.